The Best NFL Comebacks of the Last 20 Years
By Jason Lisk
Aaron Rodgers limping back on the field to beat the Bears, down 20-0, got us thinking of the most improbable comebacks of the last 20 years. Consideration for this list primarily relied on the score/time scenario and how infrequent it was, with other considerations including the participants, when it happened (such as in the playoffs) and whether it produced memorable moments. Here is the list for a fun trip down memory lane:
#1 NEW ENGLAND VS ATLANTA, SUPER BOWL, February 5, 2017
Was it the greatest comeback of all-time? Given the stakes and the stage, probably so.
New England trailed (and you may have heard this before) 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter. They went on a methodical drive to score a touchdown with 2:12 remaining in the 3rd quarter. A field goal with 9:48 left still left them down 28-13. That’s when Matt Ryan was sacked by Dont’a Hightower and fumbled, and the Patriots scored and added a two-point conversion at the 6 minute mark to pull within one score. Atlanta got down in field goal range, but another big sack knocked them out of it, and the Patriots tied the game with a minute left. New England won the OT toss and the rest is immortalized in Super Bowl history.
#10 GREEN BAY vs CHICAGO, September 9, 2018
The Aaron Rodgers “Willis Reed” Game, marking the second 20-0 comeback from Rodgers to make this list. Aaron Rodgers looked like he was out for the game, and there was a lingering fear he could be done for the season in the opener after a knee injury. But he limped out with the team down 20-0, and could not move in the pocket. The Packers got a field goal in the third quarter, but were still down 20-3 at the start of the fourth. Rodgers then threw a beautiful strike to Geronimo Allison, hit Davante Adams for another, and then just before the two-minute warning, found Randall Cobb in a scramble drill that turned into a 75-yard touchdown to complete the masterpiece.
#11 SEATTLE VS GREEN BAY, NFC Champ Game, January 18, 2015
Green Bay could practically taste the Super Bowl after intercepting Russell Wilson with only 5:13 remaining, up 19-7. But a quick three-and-out with Eddie Lacy runs, and Seattle using timeouts, gave Seattle the ball back with 3:52 remaining. Seattle went on a seven-play drive to score just before the two-minute warning, then recovered an onside kick that will never be forgotten. Seattle scored again and got the two-point conversion that would prove key, to go up by 3.
Aaron Rodgers led a drive down the field to get a tying field goal, but in overtime, Seattle got the ball first and never gave it back.
#12 CHICAGO vs ARIZONA, October 16, 2006
“The Bears are who we thought they were! That’s why we took the damn field. Now, if you want to crown ’em, crown their ass. But they are who we thought they were, and we let ’em off the hook!”
This was the game that spawned one of the best post-game rants in NFL history by Dennis Green, and his temper was up because the Cardinals had blown a 20-0 halftime lead, and been up 23-3 with just under two minutes left in the third quarter. Not only did they blow the lead though, they did it improbably without ever allowing an offensive touchdown. The Bears scored on a sack and fumble to end the third quarter, then got another fumble recovery for a touchdown with 5 minutes left. Then, two minutes later, the Cardinals punted to Devin Hester and the comeback was complete.
#13 INDIANAPOLIS vs KANSAS CITY, Wildcard Round, January 4, 2014
The Kansas City Chiefs jumped all over the Colts for a 31-10 halftime lead, then intercepted Andrew Luck on the opening play of the second half and scored a touchdown three plays later to go up 38-10.
The Colts then scored four touchdowns in just over one quarter of play, and took the lead with 4:29 remaining, when Andrew Luck hit T.Y. Hilton for a 64-yard touchdown. Kansas City only had one timeout by the time they fell behind, and could not mount a drive to get a field goal.
#14 BALTIMORE VS SEATTLE, 2003: DOWN 17, 6:56 LEFT
Seattle low-key had a lot of gut-punch losses in the early 2000s, and this one ranks up there. Baltimore was known for their stifling defense, but Seattle put up 41 points on them … and lost when Anthony Wright threw for over 300 yards, and 4 touchdowns (all to Marcus Robinson).
Seattle still led 41-24 with only 9 minutes left, with the ball. But they were stopped, and had to punt, and the Ravens blocked it and Ed Reed scooped it up and scored. Seattle then moved the ball to the Ravens’ 31 with just over 4 minutes left, still up 10, but Mack Strong fumbled. Wright led a touchdown drive that ended with only 1:17 left and Baltimore still having two timeouts. The onside kick was unsuccessful, but Seattle opted to go for it on 4th and inches at the Baltimore 33 to win the game with 44 seconds left, and Matt Hasselbeck was stuffed.
A big 44-yard pass interference call put Baltimore in field goal range, Matt Stover tied it, and then won it in overtime.
#15 TENNESSEE VS NY GIANTS, November 26, 2006
This was the height of the “Vince Young is just a winner” era, as the Giants led 21-0 at the half, and that remained the score into the fourth quarter. In fact, the Titans didn’t score until 9:38 remaining in the game. Vince Young led three fourth quarter touchdown drives, with the tying score coming with only 49 seconds remaining. Then Eli Manning threw an interception, Young completed two quick passes, and Rob Bironas nailed a 49-yard field goal to win it in regulation.
#16 NEW ENGLAND vs DENVER, November 24, 2013
In a showdown of the AFC’s two best teams and the two best quarterbacks, the Patriots trailed the Broncos 24-0 at the half in Denver. But the second half belonged to Tom Brady, as the Patriots scored 31 straight points to take a lead in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning rebounded with his own touchdown drive to tie it back up, but New England won in overtime.
#2 INDIANAPOLIS VS TAMPA BAY, October 6, 2003
The best comeback in Monday Night Football history was made even more remarkable because it came against the defending Super Bowl champs and one of the best defensive groups of the last twenty years.
After Ronde Barber returned a pick-six with 5:22 remaining in the game, the Colts trailed the Bucs 35-14. Indianapolis got a huge kickoff return to set up a quick score, then immediately went onside kick still down by two touchdowns with less than four minutes left. They recovered and scored again with 2:38 left when Peyton Manning hit Marvin Harrison. Another onside kick recovery set up the third touchdown, a Ricky Williams TD with only 38 seconds left.
The Bucs got the ball first in overtime, but stalled just outside field goal range, and Peyton Manning led a 14-play drive to set up the winning field goal, which wouldn’t have happened except Simeon Rice was called for a penalty on the previous miss by Mike Vanderjagt.
#3 CHICAGO VS CLEVELAND, November 4, 2001
Just one week earlier, the Chicago Bears had won in dramatic fashion by scoring in the final minute down 8, tying it, and winning in OT on a Mike Brown interception return. As it turns out, that game was just an appetizer for the main course of improbability that would follow.
There has been only one game in the last 20 years where a team took possession inside the two-minute warning trailing by multiple scores and won, and this is the game. Chicago got the ball after a touchback, down 21-7 just inside the two-minute warning. It took them eight plays to go down the field and score a touchdown with only 32 seconds left when Shane Matthews hit Marty Booker. Still down 7, they successfully recovered the onside kick. Matthews completed two short passes, then on the final play of the game, hit running back James Allen for a 34-yard score to tie it. In overtime, Mike Brown again ended the game on a pick-six of Tim Couch, marking the most remarkable two-week lucky ending run in modern times.
#4 SAN FRANCISCO VS NY GIANTS, Wildcard Round, January 5, 2003
Quite simply one of the wildest finishes in a playoff game, and it took a ridiculous comeback to get to that point.
San Francisco trailed 38-14 after a Giants’ field goal with 4:30 left in the 3rd quarter. Over the next 11 minutes of game time, Jeff Garcia led two touchdown drives–and successful two-point conversions and a field goal drive to make it 38-33. Matt Bryant then missed a 42-yarder that would have pushed it back to an eight-point lead with 3:06 left, and the 49ers scored with a minute remaining to take the first lead, but missed the final two-point conversion to go up by only one.
That’s when one of the wildest plays ever occurred. Long snapper Trey Junkins, at 41 years old and signed out of retirement in an emergency, snapped it low and then there was a no-call on pass interference downfield on the mad scramble to end the game.
#5 PHILADELPHIA VS NY GIANTS, December 19, 2010
The Miracle at the Meadowlands Part 2 was a huge showdown for the NFC East between the Eagles and Giants. New York took a seemingly insurmountable 31-10 lead with just over 8 minutes remaining.
The Eagles then struck quickly with a long pass from Michael Vick to Brent Celek, immediately went to an onside kick and recovered it, and scored again. After a Giants’ drive stalled just outside field goal range, Michael Vick led the tying drive in the final minute. That set up one of the most famous plays of the last twenty years: DeSean Jackson’s game-ending punt return TD to walk it off in regulation.
#6 GREEN BAY vs DETROIT, December 3, 2015
The Aaron Rodgers hail mary to Richard Rodgers game. But before it even got to that point, the Packers were down 20-0 halfway through the third quarter. Randall Cobb jumped on a James Starks’ fumble in the end zone to keep Green Bay alive, and then Rodgers hit Davante Adams to get Green Bay within 6.
But they were trailing by 9 again late in the fourth quarter when Aaron Rodgers scored with just over three minutes left. Detroit looked to have ate up most of the time left, picking up a first down after bleeding all the Packers’ timeouts, and not punting until 30 seconds remained. That’s when Rodgers worked his magic from their own 21, on a wild play that saw the Packers stay alive with a facemask penalty, that then set up the deep 61-yard heave for the game winner at the gun.
#7 NEW ENGLAND VS CLEVELAND, December 8, 2013
There’s been only one game in the last decade where a team took possession down by multiple scores in the final 3 minutes and won. If you would guess that New England would be on the winning side and the Browns on the losing side, it would be a good guess.
In the same game where T.J. Ward injured Rob Gronkowski, the Browns took a 12-point lead with only 2:43 left and the Patriots having only one timeout. Tom Brady methodically moved the Patriots down the field, scoring with only 1:04 left. The Patriots, of course, recovered the onside kick. After a big pass interference call, New England scored with 35 seconds left. The Browns got into range for a desperation field goal attempt but Billy Cundiff missed the 58-yarder.
#8 NY JETS VS MIAMI, October 23, 2000
Things looked bleak for the home team on Monday Night when the Jets fell behind 30-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Over the next 11 minutes, though, the Dolphins did not pick up a single first down and the Jets scored four times to tie it at 30-30. That excitement was short-lived as Jay Fiedler hit Leslie Shepard for a long touchdown on the very next play from scrimmage. Vinny Testaverde then led another tying drive, with the touchdown going to offensive lineman Jumbo Elliott.
The Dolphins won the toss, but the Jets intercepted Jay Fiedler and kicked a winning field goal in overtime.
#9 ST. LOUIS VS HOUSTON, November 27, 2005
Ryan Fitzpatrick is back in the spotlight, so let’s flashback to a hidden gem of a wild finish. The 1-10 Texans made a field goal to go up 27-17 with only 2:52 remaining against the Rams, with backup Fitzpatrick. The Rams proceeded to go on a not-particularly-speedy drive, and found themselves at the Texans 43 with only 34 seconds left, facing a 4th and 6, and still down 10. Fitzpatrick hit Isaac Bruce for a big TD, they got the onside kick, and then he hit Torry Holt down the sideline to set up a game-tying field goal.
In overtime, after the Rams stopped the Texans, Fitzpatrick threw a deep pass to Kevin Curtis for the 56-yard game winner.